Uj  CorX 


)», 


s  little  Book  conveys  the  Greetings  of 


to 


A 

VISIT 

from 

St.  NICHOLAS 


By  Clement  C.  Moore 


Boston 

The  Atlantic  Monthly  Prefs 
1921 


T. 


Was  the  night  before  Christmas, 
when  all  through  the  house 

Not  a  creature  was  stirring, 
not  even  a  mouse; 

The  stockings  were  hung 

by  the  chimney  with  care, 


C43 

In  hopes  that  St.  Nicholas 

soon  would  be  there; 
The  children  were  nestled 

all  snug  in  their  beds 
While  visions  of  sugar-plums 

danced  through  their  heads; 
And  Mamma  in  her  ''kerchief^ 

and  I  in  my  cap^ 
fladjust  settled  our  brains 

for  a  long  winter's  nap^ 
When  out  on  the  lawn 

there  arose  such  a  clatter  ^ 
I  sprang  from  my  bed 

to  see  what  was  the  matter. 
Away  to  the  window 

I  flew  like  a  flash^ 
Tore  open  the  shutters 

and  threw  up  the  sash. 
The  moon  on  the  breast 

of  the  new-fallen  snow 


C  53 

Gave  a  lustre  of  midday 

to  objefls  below ) 
When  what  to  my  wondering 

eyes  did  appear , 
Bui  a  miniature  sleigh 

and  eight  tiny  rein-deer. 
With  a  little  old  driver 

so  lively  and  quick, 
I  knew  in  a  moment 

he  must  be  St.  Nick. 
More  rapid  than  eagles 

his  coursers  they  came, 
And  he  whistled,  and  shouted, 

and  called  them  by  name: 
"Now,  Dasher!  now,  Dancer! 

now,  Prancer  and  Vixen! 
On,  Comet!  on,  Cupid! 

on,  Donder  and  Blixen! 
To  the  top  of  the  porch! 

to  the  top  of  the  wall! 


C  63 

Now  dash  away!  dash  away! 

dash  away^  all!" 
As  leaves  that  before 

the  wild  hurricane  fly r, 
When  they  meet  with  an  obstacle^ 

mount  to  the  sky^ 
So  up  to  the  housetop 

the  coursers  they  flew ', 
With  the  sleigh  full  of  toys  ^ 

and  St.  Nicholas  too — 
And  then^  in  a  twinkling^ 

I  heard  on  the  roof 
The  prancing  and  pawing 

of  each  little  hoof. 
As  I  drew  in  my  head, 

and  was  turning  around^ 
Down  the  chimney  St.  Nicholas 

came  with  a  bound, 
fie  was  dressed  all  in  fur  ^ 
from  his  head  to  his  fool \ 


C73 
And  his  clothes  were  all  tarnished 

with  ashes  and  soot; 
A  bundle  of  toys 

he  had  flung  on  his  back. 
And  he  looked  like  apedler 

just  opening  his  pack. 
///'/  eyes — how  they  twinkled! 

his  dimples,  how  merry! 
ffis  cheeks  were  like  roses, 

his  nose  like  a  cherry! 
ffis  droll  little  mouth 

was  drawn  up  like  a  bow, 
And  the  beard  on  his  chin 

was  as  white  as  the  snow; 
The  stump  of  a  pipe 

he  held  tight  in  his  teeth, 
And  the  smoke,  it  encircled 

his  head  like  a  wreath; 
ffe  had  a  broad  face 

and  a  little  round  belly 


(8) 

That  shook  when  he  laughed, 

like  a  bowl  full  of  jelly, 
fie  was  chubby  and  plump », 

a  right  jolly  old  elf, 
And  I  laughed  when  I  saw  him 

in  spite  of  myself; 
A  wink  of  his  eye 

and  a  twist  of  his  head 
Soon  gave  me  to  know 

I  had  nothing  to  dread; 
fie  spoke  not  a  word, 

but  went  straight  to  his  work, 
And  filled  all  the  stockings; 

then  turned  with  a  jerk, 
And  laying  his  finger 

aside  of  his  nose, 
And  giving  a  nod, 

up  the  chimney  he  rose, 
fie  sprang  to  his  sleigh, 

to  his  team  gave  a  whistle, 


C9J 

And  away  they  all  flew 

like  the  down  of  a  thistle. 
But  I  heard  him  exclaim 

ere  he  drove  out  of  sight— 
"flAPPY  CHRISTMAS 

TO  ALL 
AND  TO  ALL  A  GOOD 

NIGHT'" 


by  Bruce  Rogers  and  printed  by 
William  Edwin  Rudge,  Mount  Vernon,  N.  T. 
fhe  text  is  that  of  the  original  (1837)  edition. 
The  woodcuts  are  by  Florence  Wyman  Ivins. 


^P    ••*<§:,-'  •%/    ^ 


